Case for a Cigarette Packet

ABSTRACT

A case ( 10 ) for a cigarette packet including a lid ( 14 ) and a hollow receptacle ( 12 ) that is closed at one end, a first portion of the lid ( 14 ) being shaped to receive and seat therein a lid portion of the cigarette packet and the receptacle ( 12 ) being shaped to receive and seat therein a body portion of the cigarette packet.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a case for a cigarette packet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cigarette packets bear trade marks and other indicia that help todistinguish the cigarettes of one manufacturer from those of another.Manufacturers of cigarettes typically manufacture a range of cigarettesthat are each distinguished from one another by their respective coloursand/or designs. While, such markings and colours assist in productselection, consumers may not wish to themselves advertise theirpreferred brand and style of cigarettes after the product has beenpurchased. In addition, consumers may not necessarily find that theirpreferred cigarette packet has aesthetic value.

Cigarette packets in Australia, for example, bear government healthwarnings that are designed to confront smokers with the dangers ofsmoking. While the government health warnings may be useful in informingsmokers of these dangers, they are laid bare for all to see and may beoffensive to some people.

An object of preferred embodiments of the present invention is toovercome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties,or at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a case for a cigarette packet including a lid and a hollowreceptacle that is closed at one end, a first portion of the lid beingshaped to receive and seat therein a lid portion of the cigarette packetand the receptacle being shaped to receive and seat therein a bodyportion of the cigarette packet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a case for a cigarette packet including a lid and a hollowreceptacle that is closed at one end, the receptacle being shaped toreceive and seat therein a body portion of the cigarette packet and thelid being arrangable to extend over and cover an open end of thereceptacle so as to secure a cigarette packet stored therein.

Preferably, the case includes a wallet that is coupleable to a side ofthe case.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there isprovided, a cover for a lid of a cigarette packet, including a firstportion being shaped to receive, and seat therein, the lid of thecigarette packet and a second portion for coupling the cover to a bodyportion of the cigarette packet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described,by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a case for a cigarette packet in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a rear aspect of the case shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a lid of the case shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a side aspect of the of the lidof the case shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a rearaspect of the lid of the case shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a receptacle of the case shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a cigarette packet;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the receptacle shown in FIGS. 6 with the cigarette packetshown in FIG. 7 seated therein;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a side aspect of the lid of thecase shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 coupled to the cigarette packet shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a rearaspect of the lid coupled to the cigarette packet shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the lid and coupled to the cigarette packet shown in FIGS. 9and 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of a partially exploded isometricview of a front aspect of the case shown in FIG. 1 coupled to thecigarette packet shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the case shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the cigarette packet shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a rearaspect of a case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a furtherrear aspect of the case shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of are isometric view of a frontaspect of the wallet shown in FIG. 16 arranged in a first position;

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the wallet shown in FIG. 17 arranged in a second position;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a case for a cigarette packet in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the case shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of a case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic illustration of an isometric view of a frontaspect of the case shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic illustration of a perspective view of a lid ofa case in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic illustration of a side view of the of the lidshown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic illustration of a rear view of the lid shownin FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic illustration of a side view of the lid shownin FIG. 23;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of the lid shownin FIG. 23; and

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic illustration of a bottom view of the lid shownin FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The case 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a decorative and protectivecovering for a cigarette packet (not shown). The case 10 includes ahollow receptacle 12 that is closed at one end. The receptacle 12 isshaped to receive, and store therein, a cigarette packet. The case 10also includes a lid 14 that is positionable over an open end of thereceptacle 12 to secure the contents of the receptacle 12 therein.

The lid 14 includes first and sections 16,18, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.The first section 16 is rectangular in shape and has a height, h_(f),and a length, l_(f), that each approximate the height and the length ofa cigarette packet respectively. The width, w_(f), of the first section16 is, for example, 2 mm.

The second section 18 is formed in the shape of a box having one openside. The length, l_(s), of the second section 18 is equal to thelength, l_(f), of the first section 16. The width, w_(s), of the secondsection 18 approximates the width of the cigarette packet. The height,h_(s), of the second section 18 approximates the height of a lid portionof the cigarette packet. The second section 18 is shaped to receive thelid portion of the cigarette packet through the above-mentioned openside.

The first section 16 is arranged with respect to the second section 18such that a length, l_(s), of the second section 18 is parallel to andabutting a length, l_(f), of the first section 16. Further, the abuttinglengths of the first and second sections 16,18 are coupled together by ahinge 20. The mentioned abutting length of the second section 18 is alength of the second section 18 that, in part, defines the open side ofthe box-shaped second section 18.

The open end 22 of the receptacle 12 shown in FIG. 6 is shaped toreceive an end portion 24 of the cigarette packet 26 shown in FIG. 7.The length, l_(r), and width, w_(r), of the receptacle 12 are slightlygreater than the length, l_(c), and the width, w_(c), of the cigarettepacket, such that the packet 26 can pass through the open end 22 of thereceptacle 12. The packet 26 is seated within the receptacle 12 when theend portion 24 of the packet 26 abuts the closed end of the receptacle12. The height, h_(r), of the receptacle 12 is approximates the height,h_(c), of a body portion 28 of the cigarette packet 26. When the packetis seated in the 10 receptacle 12 in the described manner a lid portion30 of the cigarette packet 26 protrudes from the receptacle 12 in themanner shown in FIG. 8.

The open side of the box-shaped second section 18 of the lid 14 isshaped to receive the lid portion 30 of the cigarette packet 26 in themanner shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. The length, l_(s), and the width, w_(s),of the second section 18 of the lid 14 are such that the lid 30 of thecigarette packet 26 (having length, l_(c), and width, w_(c)) can passthrough the open side of the box-shaped second section 18 of the lid 14.The lid 30 of the packet 26 is seated within the second section 18 whenan end portion of the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26 abuts the closedend of the second section 18. The height, h_(s), of the second section18 of the lid 14 approximates the height of the lid 30 of the cigarettepacket 26. When the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26 is seated in thesecond section 30 of the lid 14 in the described manner, a body portion28 of the cigarette packet 26 protrudes from the second section 18 ofthe lid 14 in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 to 11.

The case 10 is fitted to the cigarette packet 26 by first seating thelid 30 of the cigarette packet 26 within the second section 18 of thelid 14 and then seating the body portion of the cigarette packet,together with the first section 16 of the lid 14 within the receptacle12, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. Alternatively, the cigarette packet26 may first be seated in the receptacle 12 and then fitted to the lid14 in the described manner.

In one example of the invention, the lid 14 is made of a silicon rubbermaterial and resiliently engages the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26when fitted in the above-described manner. Alternatively, the lid 30 ofthe cigarette packet 26 may be coupled to the second section 18 of thelid 14 in any suitable manner.

The hinge 20 is preferably a fold line, or a crease, in the siliconrubber material of the lid 14. The hinge 20 thereby allows the secondsection 18 of the lid 14 to rotate about the first section 16 of the lid14. Alternatively, the hinge may be formed of any suitable material thatis coupled to both the first and second sections 16,18 of the lid 14.

The case 10 shown in FIG. 14 includes a pocket 32 of suitable size tosupport a cigarette lighter. The pocket is located on the periphery ofthe case 10 and is made of a fabric material. Alternatively, the pocketmay be made of any suitable material.

The case 10 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 includes a wallet 34. The wallet 34is coupleable to a rear side of the case 10. The wallet 34 is secured tothe case 10 by way of a zipper (not shown). The zipper extends aroundthe periphery of one side of the wallet 34. The rear side of the case 10includes corresponding portions of the zipper and the wallet is therebysecurable to the case 10. The wallet may alternatively be secured to thecase 10 by corresponding male and female velcro strips secured torespective opposed sides of the wallet 34 and the case 10. The wallet 34may otherwise be secured to the case 10 by any suitable means. Thewallet 34 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 includes pockets 36 for storingcards, money and other associated items.

The case 50 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 includes a hollow receptacle 52that is closed at one end. The receptacle 52 is shaped to receive, andstore therein, a cigarette packet 26. The case 50 also includes a lid 54that is positionable over the open end of the receptacle 52 to therebysecure the contents of the receptacle 52 therein. The case functions inan analogous manner to the above-described case 10. The case 50 alsoincludes a capping 56 that can be fitted over the lid 54. An outerperipheral portion 58 of the lid 54 includes a plurality of raisedrubber portions 60 that are positioned to resiliently engage the capping56 when fitted over the lid 54 in the described manner. The raisedrubber portions 60 bear against the capping 56 when so fitted andthereby secure the capping 56 to the lid 54.

The capping 56 is preferably stainless steel. However, any suitablematerial may be used. The capping 56 increases the aesthetic value ofthe case 50 as well as further protecting the cigarette packet storedtherein.

The case 62 shown in FIG. 21 functions as a decorative and protectivecovering for a cigarette packet (not shown). The case 62 includes ahollow receptacle 64 that is closed at one end. The receptacle 64 isshaped to receive, and store therein, a cigarette packet. The case 62also includes a lid 66 that is positionable over an open end of thereceptacle 64 to secure the contents of the receptacle 64 therein. Thelid 66 is formed of a fabric material and is secured to the receptacle64 by a hinge 68.

The open end of the receptacle 64 is shaped to receive an end portion 24of the cigarette packet 26 shown in FIG. 7. The length and width of thereceptacle 64 is slightly greater than the length and the width of thepacket of cigarettes, so that the cigarette packet 26 can pass throughthe open end of the receptacle 64. The packet 26 is seated within thereceptacle 64 when the end portion 24 of the cigarette packet 26 abutsthe closed end of the receptacle 64. The height of the receptacle 64 isequivalent to the height of a body portion 28 of the cigarette packet26. When the packet is seated in the receptacle 64 in the describedmanner, an open end of the packet 26 is coplanar with the open end ofthe receptacle 64.

The lid 66 extends from the hinge 68, over the open end of thereceptacle 64, to a position overlying the front side of the case 62 inthe manner shown in FIG. 22. The lid 66 is coupleable to the front sideof the case by way of corresponding male and female velcro stripssecured to respective opposed portions of the front side of the case 62and to the lid 68. Alternatively, the lid may be secured to the case byany suitable means.

The case 62 is fitted to the cigarette packet 26 by first seating thebody portion 28 of the cigarette packet 26 within the receptacle 64 inthe above described manner. The cigarette packet 26 is secured in thatposition by coupling the lid 66 to the receptacle 64 in the describedmanner.

The case 62 is suitable for use with soft cased cigarette packets thatdo not have a lid 30. The case 62 also includes a pocket 70 of suitablesize to support a cigarette lighter. The pocket is located on theperiphery of the case 62 and is made of a fabric material.Alternatively, the pocket 70 may be made of any suitable material.

The case 10,50,62 is formed of a fabric material. The fabric materialmay be, for example, a woven fabric material, leather, fake animal fur,etc.

The case 10 alternatively includes the lid 80 shown in FIGS. 23 to 29.The lid 80 includes first and sections 82,84. The first section 82 isgenerally rectangular in shape and has a height, h_(a), and a length,l_(a), that each approximate the height and the length of a cigarettepacket. The width, w_(a), of the first section 82 is, for example, 2 mm.

The second section 84 is formed in the shape of a box having one openside. The length, l_(b), of the second section 84 is equal to thelength, la, of the first section 82. The width, w_(h), of the secondsection 18 approximates the width of the cigarette packet. First andsecond opposed sides walls 86,88 of the second section 82 are ofdifferent heights, such that the height, h_(ai), of the first side wall86 is greater than that of the height, h_(aii), of the second side wall88. The shape of the second section 84 is similar to that of the lid ofa cigarette packet and is shaped to receive the lid of the cigarettepacket through the above-mentioned open side.

The first section 82 is arranged with respect to the second section 84such that a length, l_(b), of the second section 84 is parallel to andabutting a length, l_(a), of the first section 82. Further, the abuttinglengths of the first and second sections 82,84 are coupled together by ahinge 90. The mentioned abutting length, l_(b), of the second section 82is a length of the second section 84 that, at least in part, defines theopen side of the box-shaped second section 84.

The second section 84 of the lid 80 includes a flexible flange 92 thatextends from an end of the first side wall 86 that partially defines theopen end of the second section 84. The flange 92 extends in a generallyfrom the mentioned end of the first side wall 86 into the second sectionof the lid 80 in a direction that is generally parallel to the firstside wall. The flange 92 is resiliently movable about the end of thefirst side wall 86 to allow the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26 topass through the open side of the second section 84 so as to be seatedwithin the lid 80. The flange 90 can then be arranged to fold back overan inner surface of the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26. When sopositioned, the flange 92 resiliently bears against the lid 30 of thecigarette packet 26 and thereby assists in securing the second section84 of the lid 80 to the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26.

The lid 80 is preferably made of a silicon rubber material andresiliently engages the lid 30 of the cigarette packet 26 when fitted inthe above-described manner. Alternatively, the lid 30 of the cigarettepacket 26 may be coupled to the second section 84 of the lid 80 in anysuitable manner.

The hinge 90 is preferably a fold line, or a crease, in the siliconrubber material of the lid 80. The hinge 90 thereby allows the secondsection 84 of the lid 80 to rotate about the first section 82 of the lid80. Alternatively, the hinge 90 may be formed of any suitable materialthat is coupled to both the first and second sections 82,84 of the lid80.

The lid 14,80 is preferably made of a polymeric material. The polymericmaterial may be elastomeric or rigid. For example, the lid 14,80 may bemade of any one of polyurethane; polypropylene, polyethylene.Alternatively, the lid 14,80 may be made of polyethylene terephthalate(PETE).

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the presentinvention, further modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular forms shown and we intend inthe append claims to cover all modifications that do not depart from thespirit and scope of this invention.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise,the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and“comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a statedinteger or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion ofany other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and shouldnot be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that theprior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

1. A case for a cigarette packet including a lid and a hollow receptaclethat is closed at one end, a first portion of the lid being shaped toreceive and seat therein a lid portion of the cigarette packet and thereceptacle being shaped to receive and seat therein a body portion ofthe cigarette packet.
 2. The case claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondportion of the lid is shaped for insertion into the receptacle tothereby couple the lid to the receptacle.
 3. The case claimed in claim2, wherein said first portion of the lid is coupled to the secondportion of the lid by a hinge.
 4. The case claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first portion of the lid resiliently engages the lid of thecigarette packet when the lid of the cigarette packet is seated therein.5. The case claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is made of a siliconerubber material.
 6. The case claimed in claim 1, including a cap shapedto receive and secure therein the first portion of the lid.
 7. The caseclaimed in claim 6, wherein the cap is made of stainless steel.
 8. Thecase claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid of the case includes a flangethat is adapted to secure the lid portion of the cigarette packet in aposition seated within the lid of the case.
 9. A case for a cigarettepacket including a lid and a hollow receptacle that is closed at oneend, the receptacle being shaped to receive and seat therein a bodyportion of the cigarette packet and the lid being arrangable to extendover and cover an open end of the receptacle so as to secure a cigarettepacket stored therein.
 10. The case claimed in claim 9, including awallet that is coupleable to a side of the case.
 11. The case claimed inclaim 9, wherein the wallet is coupleable to the case by way of a zipperhaving a first part secured to the wallet and a second part secured tosaid side of the case.
 12. The case claimed in claim 9, wherein thewallet includes a plurality of pockets, the pockets being shaped toreceive money or cards.
 13. The case claimed in claim 9, including apocket coupled to a side of the case, the pocket being suitable forstoring a cigarette lighter.
 14. The case claimed in claim 9, whereinthe lid is made of polymeric material.
 15. The case claimed in claim 14,wherein the lid is made of polyurethane.
 16. A cover for a lid of acigarette packet, including a first portion being shaped to receive, andseat therein, the lid of the cigarette packet and a second portion forcoupling the cover to a body portion of the cigarette packet.
 17. Thecover claimed in claim 16, wherein the second section is shaped forinsertion into a receptacle containing the body portion of the cigarettepacket and is adapted to couple the lid to the receptacle when soarranged.
 18. The cover claimed in claim 16, wherein the first sectionand the second section are coupled together by a hinge so that the lidof the cigarette can be open and closed by rotating the lid about thehinge.
 19. The cover claimed in claim 16, including a flange that isadapted to secure the lid of the cigarette packet in a position seatedwithin the cover. 20-21. (canceled)